# Box64 — x86_64 Emulator for ARM64 and RISC-V Linux

> A userspace x86_64 emulator with a dynamic recompiler that lets ARM64, RISC-V, and LoongArch Linux devices run x86_64 binaries, including games and desktop applications.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Box64 — x86_64 Emulator for ARM64 and RISC-V Linux

## Quick Use
```bash
# Build from source on ARM64
git clone https://github.com/ptitSeb/box64.git
cd box64 && mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. -DARM_DYNAREC=ON -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo
make -j$(nproc) && sudo make install
sudo systemctl restart systemd-binfmt
# Run an x86_64 binary
box64 ./my_x86_64_app
```

## Introduction
Box64 is a Linux userspace emulator that allows x86_64 applications to run on ARM64, RISC-V 64-bit, and LoongArch hardware. It uses a dynamic recompiler (dynarec) to translate x86_64 instructions to the host architecture at runtime, achieving performance levels that make desktop applications and even some 3D games playable on single-board computers and ARM laptops.

## What Box64 Does
- Translates x86_64 machine code to ARM64, RV64, or LoongArch instructions at runtime
- Wraps native system libraries so x86_64 programs can call host libc, OpenGL, and Vulkan
- Integrates with binfmt_misc so x86_64 binaries launch transparently
- Supports Wine and Proton for running Windows applications on ARM hardware
- Handles multi-threaded applications and signal forwarding correctly

## Architecture Overview
Box64 intercepts x86_64 instructions and either interprets them or feeds them to a platform-specific dynarec that emits native code blocks. Frequently executed code paths are cached in a translation buffer for reuse. For system library calls, Box64 has a wrapping mechanism that bridges x86_64 calling conventions to native ones, avoiding the overhead of emulating standard library code.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Build from source with CMake; enable the dynarec for your platform (ARM_DYNAREC, RV64_DYNAREC, etc.)
- Register the binfmt handler so x86_64 ELF binaries run automatically
- Set `BOX64_LOG` environment variable to control logging verbosity
- Use `BOX64_LD_LIBRARY_PATH` to point to x86_64 library directories
- Pair with Box86 (the 32-bit sibling) for i386 application support

## Key Features
- Dynamic recompiler delivers playable performance for demanding applications
- Library wrapping avoids emulating well-known libraries, boosting speed
- Transparent binfmt integration requires no manual invocation
- Works with Wine and Proton to run Windows software on ARM devices
- Supports Raspberry Pi 4/5, Apple M-series (via Asahi Linux), Snapdragon, and RISC-V boards

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **QEMU user-mode** — general-purpose emulation with higher overhead; Box64 is optimised for performance via dynarec
- **FEX-Emu** — similar x86 on ARM emulator; Box64 focuses on library wrapping for speed
- **Rosetta 2** — Apple's proprietary translation layer for macOS; Box64 is open-source and Linux-only
- **Box86** — the 32-bit (i386) sibling project; use both together for full x86 support
- **Wine + Hangover** — combines Wine with QEMU for Windows apps on ARM; Box64 + Wine is generally faster

## FAQ
**Q: Can it run Steam games?**
A: Yes, with Wine or Proton. Many games are playable on Raspberry Pi 5 and similar hardware.

**Q: How does performance compare to native?**
A: Typically 50-80% of native x86_64 speed depending on the workload and dynarec maturity.

**Q: Does it support Vulkan?**
A: Yes. Box64 wraps Vulkan calls to the host driver, enabling DXVK and vkd3d-proton.

**Q: Which ARM devices are supported?**
A: Any ARM64 Linux system: Raspberry Pi 4/5, Pine64, Rockchip, Snapdragon, and Apple Silicon via Asahi Linux.

## Sources
- https://github.com/ptitSeb/box64
- https://box86.org

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Author: AI Open Source